Track-cleaner.



I. T. MERCHANT.

TRACK CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.25, 1913.

1,0?592'21 Patented 0013.14, 1913.

1720622 for Car ISAAC T. MERGE ANT,

enrich OF MORVEN, GEORGIA.

TRAGILCLEANER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Isaac 'l. MERCHANT, a citizen of the United States. residing at Moi-Von, in the county of Brooks and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful improvements in Track-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in track cleaners and it proposes an arrangement which is auxiliary to the pilot of a locomotive and serves the purpose of deflecting from the rails any objects which are too small to be engaged by the pilot and yet which might have the effect of dera'iling the train, such, for example, as loose spikes, nuts, or pieces of metal.

The object of the invention is to provide an Xceedingly simple and strong device for the purpose stated, wherein the deflectors are advantageously disposed, strongly supported, and readily accessible.

in embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showing the improved track cleaner as in use; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the device as mounted upon the rear bar of the base frame of the pilot; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the deflectors.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The pilot includes a triangular base frame, to the rear bar a of which the track cleaning device is attached. The device consists of a bar 1 which is flat throughout most of its extent, and is secured to, and against, the bar a by bolt fastenings 2. The bar 1 carries at its ends the deflectors 3 which are preferably in the nature of brushes, made up of resilient steel wires. The ends of the bar 1 by which the brushes of the deflector 3 are carried are of special formation, for the purposes of disposing said deflectors obliquely with reference to the rails, of efficiently supporting said deflectors against turning movement, and of providing access to said deflectors and their fastening connections. For these purposes the bar 1 has at each end thereof an outwardly and rearwardly inclined portion l which extends obliquely across the adjacent rail and is parallel to the oblique bar of the base of the pilot adjacent said rail. The deflectors 3 are secured to the inclined portions 4, by bolt fastenings 5.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Oct. 14,1 913.

25, 1913. Serial No. 750,674.

in order that said deflectors may be applied to bars 0 located at arying distances above the rails, a vertical row of openings 8 is provided, ihrmigh any one of which the bolt of the fastening 5 may be passed, in accordance with the distance from the rail of that bar a to which the device is to be applied. Inasmuch as said deflectors, at their inner sides, abut against the flat body portion of the bar 1, as shown in Fig. 1, there is no liability of said deflectors turning on the connections 5. Inasmuch as the inclined portions 4 project rearwardly from the bar a, spaces 6 are afforded in the rear of said inclined portions by which access may be had to the nuts or bolt heads of the fasten ings The inclined portions 4 are of the same extent as the width of the deflectors 3, and consequently, form efficient bearings for the latter.

it is preferred to provide the bar 1 with angular end flanges 7 which. take a bearing against the bar a, and, of course, project forwardly from the inclined portions at. The flanges 7 may be attached to the bar a by bolt :istenings, if desired.

The device may be readily applied and removed by proper manipulation of the bolt fastening-s 2. Or, instead of removing the device as an entirety, each individual deflector may be removed by manipulation of the bolt fastening 5.

The construction above described is inexpensive, strong, compact, accessible, and embodies no parts which are liable to derangement.

.laving fully described my invent-ion, I claim:

1. A track cleaner comprising a bar to be bolted to the rear bar of the base frame of the pilot and having an outwardly and rearwardly inclined end portion co-planar with said base frame and projecting obliquely across the adjacent rail, and a deflector secured to said inclined portion.

2. A. track cleaner comprising a bar to be bolted to the rear bar of the base frame of the pilot and having an outwardly and rearwardly inclined end portion co-planar with said base frame and projecting obliquely across the adjacent rail, and a deflector secured to said inclined portion and with its inner side abutting the body portion of said fl *st-named bar.

3. A track cleaner comprising a bar to be bolted to the rear bar of the base frame of the pilot and having an outwardly and rearwardly inclined end portion co-planar with said base frame and projecting obliquely across the adjacent rail, and a deflector secured to said inclined portion, said firstnalned bar having also an angular flange which projects forwardly from said inclined portion and engages against said rear bar.

%. A track cleaner comprising a bar adaptto be bolted. to the rear bar of the base frame of the pilot and having at its ends remi'wardly and outwardly inclined portions,

co-planar with said base frame and pr0jecting across the adjacent rails, and a deflector secured to each of said inclined portions and with its inner side abutting the body portion of said first named bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- C. F. FRY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

